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#AEW2023 Farmout Forum Connects Investors to African Blocks

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3 years ago

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African Energy Week

Financial services company Moyes & Co, global acquisition and divestment advisor Envoi, and oil and gas deal listing platform FarmoutAngel hosted the African Farmout Forum at this year’s African Energy Week conference

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 18, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 conference and exhibition – organized by the African Energy Chamber (http://www.EnergyChamber.org) – is centered on facilitating investment across the entire African energy value chain. This year’s conference featured the inaugural African Farmout Forum, a dedicated investment platform spearheaded by financial services company Moyes & Co; global acquisition and divestment advisor Envoi; and oil and gas deal listing platform FarmoutAngel.

The Farmout Forum served as a premier platform to sign deals while gaining first-hand insight into emerging E&P opportunities in Africa. Mike Lakin, Managing Director of Envoi, kicked off the forum by stating, “We will have a major problem in the world if we are not drilling.” Presentations were delivered on various exploration opportunities.

PetroQuest: Somalia

PetroQuest is offering an investment opportunity for three blocks – PSA Blocks 131, 190 and 206 – offshore Somalia. Somalia has only had two deepwater wells drilled to date. PetroQuest has 15,000 km² of seismic data; a new Production Sharing Agreement has been set up and the company is now looking for suitable partners.

Tower Resources: Cameroon

Representing a short-cycle opportunity, Tower Resources presented on the Thali Block located in the Rio del Rey Basin in Cameroon. The appraisal well will be drilled next year which aims to unlock the opportunity to drill a further three wells. Tower Resources is targeting first production at 2025.

Tower Resources: Namibia

In Namibia, Tower Resources offers an opportunity for Blocks in the Northern Walvis and Dolphin Graben Basin. Wells have been drilled at the basin, but previous activities were conducted between 25 and 30 years ago. While the company is not ready to farmout yet, Tower Resources is looking at engaging with prospective companies.

ProdOil: Benin

Angolan company ProdOil is exploring onshore Angola in the Lower Congo Block. Awarded to ProdOil in a bid round closed in 2022, work is underway to reprocess 2D seismic data and the company is looking for someone to take on the work commitment.

Atlas Oranto Petroleum International: Senegal

Atlas Oranto holds two licenses in Senegal, Cayar Shallow and St. Louis Shallow, adjacent to one another. The company is seeking to farm-down interest in those two licenses and believes that it is a highly attractive opportunity. The licenses have been extended to 2026.

Atlas Oranto Petroleum International: Equatorial Guinea

Atlas Oranto is also offering an opportunity in Block P; Block EG-02; and Block EG-H in Equatorial Guinea. The Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons has already approved the development plan and they believe to have between 17 and 38 million barrels of oil in place. Licenses have been extended to 2026.

Atlas Oranto Petroleum International: Namibia

In Namibia, Atlas Oranto Petroleum has an exciting opportunity in PEL 106: Blocks 2011B and 2111A. Located in the Walvis Basin, the blocks have been extended with a nine-year exploration timeline. The company is selectively looking for partners to farm-down and farm-in.

DAJO Group: Nigeria

DAJO Group is offering a 40% working interst in OPL 322, offshore Nigeria. The Block has two fields within it, the Bobo and Ago Structure.

With the opportunities on the table, the African Farmout Forum provided attendees the chance to join exciting new plays, thereby opening up new basins across the continent

Sierra Leone License 202a

Awarded under the country’s fourth licensing round to Innoson Oil and Gas Ltd, the prospect comprises nine ‘whole’ blocks comprising 8,035km². There is 2D seismic survey available with wildcats having been drilled following data acquisition. There is additional a CPR report available for any company interested in the farm-in opportunity.

Kariya Energy: Nigeria

Kariya Energy is offering an opportunity offshore Nigeria in OML 109. Currently, there are two near-term prospects which have the same geology as neighboring Ejulebe field. There is a CPR on the block which was completed in 2022. The central processing facility has been revamped and the license has been extended to 2037.

Tetracore Group: Nigeria

In Nigeria’s OML 53, Tetracore Group is looking for $50 million investment for Phase 1 of the field development to redevelop the marginal field. They have an early production plan and a lot of historic work.

Coastline Exploration: Somalia

Coastline Exploration holds interests in Blocks 129-130, 141, 143, 191, 192, 205 and 221 and has 2D seismic data on the area. The company is looking for a partner to part-fund a 3D seismic survey over some of the most prospective blocks.

ReconAfrica: Namibia

Onshore Namibia, ReconAfrica has over six million acres while in Botswana, over two million acres. The company has shot 27,000km of 2D seismic and they have 20 prospects and leads identified so far. They are approved to drill 12 prospects in the area and are going through a basin modelling.

CoMiCo: DRC

CoMiCo has an investment opportunity in the frontier Cuvette Centrale Block in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Africa Fortesa Corp: Senegal

Africa Fortesa Corp is seeking partners for Sadiaratou and Diender Permits in Senegal. The company is looking for capital to hook-up upcoming wells to markets. They have a right to deliver oil and gas directly to customers, making it an ideal investment opportunity.

Biogas Unite: Africa

Biogas Unite is developing a biogas project in Africa. The project comprises gas that is not immediately flammable and can easily be transported, therefore ideal for domestic use. The company is looking for $750,000 investment to upscale what they have and expand across Africa.

Further opportunities were provided in blocks in Guyana and Australia, with presenting companies including Eco Atlantic, Petro Australis Energy and Liberty.

In addition to company presentations, insight was provided into the DRC’s ongoing licensing round. Blocks are on offer in the Cuvette Centrale Basin; Albertine Graben Basin; and Lake Tanganyika Basin, with deadlines for submissions of interest January 2024; October to December 2023; and September to October 2023, respectively.

With the opportunities on the table, the African Farmout Forum provided attendees the chance to join exciting new plays, thereby opening up new basins across the continent.

#AEW2023 takes place this week in Cape Town under a mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030. Keep following www.AECWeek.com for more exciting information and updates about Africa’s premier energy event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Afreximbank Posts Robust Q1 2026 Results with 25% Growth in Net Income and Improved Profitability

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Afreximbank

The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment

The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate

CAIRO, Egypt, May 22, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or the “Bank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) announced its results for the three months ended 31 March 2026. The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment.

 

The Group continued to expand its lending activities in Q1 2026, resulting in total credit exposure growing by 2% to reach a portfolio of US$42 billion, up from US$41 billion as of 31 December 2025. This performance reflects Afreximbank’s leading role as a Development Finance Institution (DFI) in financing trade and trade-enabling infrastructure, and its strategic contribution to economic resilience across Africa and the Caribbean.

Average loans and advances for Q1 2026 stood at US$32 billion, up 8% compared to the same period in the prior year, driving the recorded growth in interest income. The Group’s liquidity position remained strong, with cash and cash equivalents of US$5.6 billion, representing 14% of total assets, consistent with FY2025 and above the Bank’s strategic minimum.

Asset quality also remained strong, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio at 2.40%, broadly in line with 2.43% at FY2025 and below industry average.

Shareholders’ funds increased to US$8.6 billion at 31 March 2026, up from US$8.4 billion at FY2025, supported by internally generated capital of US$268.9 million and new equity investments received during the quarter, underscoring the Bank’s continued ability to mobilise capital from its shareholders in support of its growth and development mandate.

The Group delivered strong profitability during the quarter.  Notwithstanding declining benchmark rates, total interest income rose by 14% year-on-year to reach US$813.6 million, while net interest income increased by 24% to US$510.0 million, compared with US$411.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. The Group’s cost-to-income ratio remained contained at 19%, well within the Group’s strategic ceiling of 30%. As a result, Profit for the period increased to US$268.9 million, up from US$215.4 million in Q1 2025.

The Group continued to maintain a strong capital position, with a capital adequacy ratio of 23% as at 31 March 2026, in line with the Bank’s long-term capital management targets.

During the quarter, Afreximbank continued to demonstrate its counter-cyclical role in response to external shocks. In March 2026, the Bank launched a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme to help member countries mitigate adverse spillover effects from the Gulf crisis. The facility is designed to support liquidity, stabilise trade and payments, and address supply-side disruptions, particularly in energy, tourism and aviation, fertilisers, food and other critical imports.

The Bank also continued to deploy targeted financing and advisory support to strengthen trade flows, industrial capacity and economic resilience across Africa and CARICOM. Regional integration received further momentum following South Africa’s ratification of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement in February 2026, bringing one of Africa’s largest and most diversified economies into the Bank’s membership and giving the Bank full continental coverage.

Highlights of the results for Afreximbank Group are shown below:

Financial Performance Metrics

Q1’2026

Q1’2025
Gross Income (US$ million)

874.1

784.9
Net Income (US$ million)

268.9

215.4
Return on average equity (ROAE)

13%

12%
Return on average assets (ROAA)

2.62%

2.38%
Cost-to-income ratio

19%

16%

 

Financial Position Metrics

Q1’2026

FY’2025
Total Assets (US$ billion)

41.7

42.3
Total Liabilities (US$ billion)

33.0

33.9
Shareholders’ Funds (US$ billion)

8.6

8.4
Non-performing loans ratio (NPL)

2.40%

2.43%
Cash/Total assets

14%

14%
Capital Adequacy ratio (Basel II)

23%

          23%

 

Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented:

“Against a backdrop of continued global uncertainty, heightened geopolitical risks and tight financial conditions, the Group delivered a resilient first-quarter performance, underpinned by disciplined balance sheet management, sound asset quality and strong capital and liquidity buffers. The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate. Our swift launch of the US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme further underscores Afreximbank’s counter-cyclical role in supporting member countries during periods of disruption. We remain focused on stabilising trade flows, easing liquidity pressures and advancing the industrial and economic transformation of Africa and the Caribbean.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Via Licensing Alliance Expands Voice Codec Program with New Licensee, New Licensors, Publishes Comprehensive Pool Rate Structure

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

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Via Licensing Alliance

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 May 2026 – Via Licensing Alliance (Via) today announced continued momentum for its Voice Codec patent pool, including the addition of a new unnamed licensee and new licensors, NovaVoice Limited and Cordial IP, further growing the program’s patent stack and market penetration from its initial five, large global licensors.

The addition of the new licensee, unnamed at this time, reflects growing industry adoption of the collaborative licensing pathway Via’s Voice Codec program creates for accessing IP rights to critical voice technologies. This addition reflects a growing market uptake of advanced voice technologies, including EVS and IVAS, driven by rising demand as 5G and 5G-Advanced technologies are adopted worldwide.

Additionally, Via continues to prioritize transparency and has published its full rate structure for the Voice Codec pool, providing further clarity and predictability for implementers and to the broader market. For implementers, the full rate structure allows for complete visibility as they consider the appropriate royalty structure to choose from to meet their product level costs, evaluate future growth paths for their product lines, or plan their geographical expansion plan needs. This level of disclosure not only reduces uncertainty in licensing decisions but also enables more consistent benchmarking, reinforcing confidence in fair, market-aligned SEP licensing practices. The program’s royalty rates are listed on Via’s website at https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#license-fees.

The addition of the new licensors indicates increased interest from patent holders in licensing their voice technology SEPs through highly efficient, aggregated licensing vehicles such as patent pools. Future growth in both the licensor list and the number of patents consolidated through the pool license will continue to enhance the value of the Voice Codec License for implementers. Via’s Voice Codec program licensors are listed here: https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#licensors.

Via’s Voice Codec pool covers Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), which supports voice communications across more than one billion and growing active devices globally, as well as Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS), which will play a central role in next-generation voice and spatial audio applications.

“We are pleased to welcome these new entrants to our pool, which signal continued growth and momentum our Voice Codec program,” said Kevin Mack, President of Via Licensing Alliance. “This pool license offers strong value relative to other market options and represents the only collaborative licensing solution for EVS and IVAS technologies, making it a smart and efficient pathway for companies seeking to license critical voice capabilities.”

EVS remains a foundational technology for high-quality voice communications in 5G and 5G-Advanced networks, with adoption continuing to expand as 5G, 5G-Advanced and future network iterations reach global scale. As spatial audio and advanced voice technologies expand into 6G and a broader range of non-cellular devices, the importance of IVAS technologies is expected to increase, with Via’s pool offering an early and effective licensing pathway.

For more information about the Voice Codec patent pool, including information for prospective licensees, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

About Via Licensing Alliance:
Via Licensing Alliance is the collaborative licensing leader, dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via has operated dozens of licensing programs for a variety of technologies. Via is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. For more information about Via, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

 

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Joint statement welcoming the Republic of Togo’s announcement on Visa facilitation for African nationals

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Togo

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda

LOMÉ, Togo, May 21, 2026/APO Group/ –The AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) welcome the announcement by the Government of the Republic of Togo, under the leadership of H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, regarding measures to facilitate visa-free entry for all nationals of African States holding valid passports, as announced by the Minister of Security on 18 May 2026.

The announcement was made in Lomé on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026, the continent’s premier trade and business platform, which has brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, investors, and stakeholders from across Africa to advance dialogue on intra-African trade, investment, and regional integration.

Throughout the engagements, participants underscored the importance of facilitating the movement of African citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors as an important enabler of intra-African trade and economic cooperation. Against this backdrop, the announcement reflects the growing continental momentum towards strengthening connectivity and deepening African integration.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank, to which Togo is a State Party and a Member State, envision a continent where goods, services, capital, and people move more freely across borders in support of an integrated African market. Measures that facilitate mobility and connectivity continue to contribute towards advancing the broader mandate of both institutions; the attainment of the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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